Archives of Iranian Medicine
Volume:1 Issue: 4, Oct 1998

Abstract Background—Approaches to mucosal immunization against measles have been mostly centered on intranasal or inhalation routes. Methods—Immune responses of vervet monkeys immunized parenterally or orally with human doses of live attenuated measles vaccine alone, or in combination with an adjuvant are compared. Polar glycopeptidolipids of Mycobacterium chelonae and negatively charged liposomes were used as adjuvants. Measles antibody was determined by hemagglutination-inhibition test. Results—Comparison of HI titers revealed that PGPL-MC as an adjuvant, significantly potentiated the HI antibody response in monkeys parenterally immunized with live attenuated measles vaccine. On the contrary, liposomes as adjuvant did not improve the HI titer. Monkeys immunized orally with 2 ml of liposomes and boosted one month later, responded by low titers of 50%, and 37%, respectively. It was found that neutralization of the gastrointestinal tract enzymes by the antienzyme aprotinin before oral immunization was ineffective. Conclusion—It is concluded that live attenuated measles vaccine adjuvanted with PGPL-MC and administered parenterally has a high immunostimulatory capacity whereas oral route is probably ineffective for mass immunization against measles infection.

Embracing her four-year-old child, she entered the emergency room in a hurry. "Help, somebody help. ..", the young lady cried with a trembling voice. "I''ve never let his hemoglobin drop below 10, and this is why his face is still normal", she added in a deep-seated sorrow. The needling marks over the limbs of the boy, were witness to so many fruitless endeavors for finding a proper site for blood transfusion. Then, his prostrated mother, with a glance of hope in her tearful eyes, asked our experienced nurses to get done the unfinished job. While all nurses were crying, one approached the child with a needle to try her chance. "What have I done that I am being punished for?", the poor little child asked. No one had any answer. Alas, the kid had thalassemia.